Very rare vagrant, accidental to Australia and New Zealand.
Habitat
Coasts and islands of southern South America, on grassy or forested islands or on mainland, on tiers of cliff faces, banks and sandhills. In breeding season, feeds in inshore waters, and on migration found in pelagic waters.
Magellanic Penguin (Spheniscus magellanicus) [XC619576]
by Ryan Irvine from Estancia la Perla, Florentino Ameghino, Chubut, Argentina (call)
Magellanic Penguin (Spheniscus magellanicus) [XC619574]
by Meena Haribal from Estancia la Perla, Florentino Ameghino, Chubut, Argentina (call, song)
Breeding Season (Guide)
Does not breed in Australia.
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
Nest
In a chamber at the end of a burrow in grassy slopes, woodland, peatbanks, sandhills and coastal bluffs, lined with pebbles, twigs, leaves and feathers, forming a mound. In colonies.
Subspecies
Sometimes considered conspecific with African Penguin (Spheniscus demersus) and Humboldt Penguin (Spheniscus humboldti). Alternatively, they may form superspecies.
However, Humboldt Penguin (Spheniscus humboldti) and African Penguin (Spheniscus demersus) have been known to interbreed with it in captivity and may therefore be subspecies, although Magellanic Penguin (Spheniscus magellanicus) and Humboldt Penguin (Spheniscus humboldti) do not appear to interbreed in areas where their ranges overlap.
The Field Guide to the Birds of Australia Pizzey, G., and Knight, E., 1997, Angus & Robertson, Sydney ISBN 0 207 19691 5
Field Guide to Australian Birds Morecombe, M., 2000, Steve Parish Publishing Pty Ltd. ISBN 1 876282 10 X
Field Guide to the Birds of Australia Simpson, K., and Day, N., 1999, 6th Edition, Viking ISBN 0 670 87918 5
Reader's Digest Complete Book of Australian Birds 1988, 2nd Edition, Reader's Digest ISBN 0 949819 99 9
What Bird is That? 1984, Revised Edition, Angus & Robertson, Sydney ISBN 0 207 14846 5
Handbook of Australian, New Zealand & Antarctic Birds 1990 - , Oxford University Press, Melbourne ISBN 0 19 553244 9
More... see more information (images, calls, videos etc)
BirdLife International Species Factsheet